North Carolina guard Ian Jackson is transferring to St. John's and returning to his hometown to play for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.

St. John's is coming off its best season in more than three decades — and determined not to slip far, if at all, for 2025-26. Rick Pitino's program got news on Monday that could go a long way to keeping the Johnnies nationally relevant and top-25 caliber for a second straight season.

Rick Pitino, in his second year back at the helm, leaned heavily on guard play, with Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith serving as dual floor generals and senior leaders. Ian Jackson was a consensus top-10 recruit in the 2024 class and a McDonald's All-American who starred at Cardinal Hayes and Our Saviour Lutheran in the Bronx.